On September 21st, the ASCE Annual General Meeting took place in the TEA headquarters in Mantua, Italy.
Over 130 participants from 16 countries attended the splendidly organised Annual General Meeting and Conference. This year's AGM was particularly important since the elections were held for the ASCE president and steering committee members.
The AGM was preceded by Mrs Lidija Pliberšek, president of ASCE, and all steering committee members were present or gave proxy to other members. During the AGM several things were outlined and discussed:
1.Introduction
Welcome speech by ASCE president, Mrs Lidija Pliberšek.
2.Presidency and Steering Committee activities 2022 / 2023
- Steering Committee meetings and sessions
- AGM 2022 in Belgrade, Serbia
- Work practice in School
- Best practices award 2022 for Schools on cemeteries project
- Organizing bus tour around Greece
- Signing the declaration of intent
- ESJF European Jewish Cemeteries Initiative conference: Protecting Jewish Cemeteries
- International seminar “Rethinking landscapes Perspective. Debate and Exchange”
- 10th Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe Training Academy
- Training Seminar for Candidate Routes
- Municipal Cemetery of Kifissia admission to the European Cemeteries Route
- Women Writers Route certificate award ceremony
- 1st international scientific and professional conference on cemeteries in Varaždin
3. ASCE administration and European Cemeteries Route activities 2022 / 2023
European Cemeteries Route Manager, Mr Dušan Vrban, presented:
- ASCE analysis and strategy
- IT upgrades (CRM system)
- New version of Artour app and completely new European Cemeteries Route app
4. Week of Discovering European Cemeteries 2024
SC member, Mr Miquel Trepat, presented the theme of the WDEC 2024 - "Cemeteries for environmental sustainability and committed to the fight against climate change."
5. Schools on cemeteries
SC member, Mrs Andreea Pop, presented past and current activities and achievements of the project Schools on cemeteries.
6. Research and science
SC member, Mrs Andreea Pop, presented past and current activities and achievements in the field of Research and science.
7. Communications
SC member, Mrs Renate Niklas highlighted the importance of communication and higher engagement on all available communication platforms (website, social tools, etc.) to be more visible.
8. New members and significant cemeteries
SC members, Mrs Melissa La Maida and Mr John Moffat, presented the new members and significant cemeteries of ASCE as well as new European Cemeteries Route members.
9. Financial report
ASCE president, Mrs. Lidija Pliberšek, presented a review of the financial status and situation of ASCE.
10. Elections
ASCE members voted for the new ASCE president and steering committee members. Among candidates, members voted for following:
- Lidija Pliberšek, Maribor, Slovenia (president)
- Melissa La Maida, Bologna, Italy (SC member and vide president)
- Miquel Trepat Celis, Barcelona, Spain (SC member and vide president)
- Renate Niklas, Vienna, Austria (SC member)
- Valérie Madoka Naito, Dresden, Germany (SC member)
- Thodoris Tzoumas, Skiathos, Greece (SC member)
- Wenche Eriksson, Oslo, Norway (SC member)
- Andreea Pop, Bucharest, Romania (SC member)
Newly elected president Lidija Pliberšek nominated new delegated representatives:
- Theodora-Virginia (Rania) Dalli, Kifissia, Greece
- Gábor Móczár, Budapest, Hungary
- Sara Carlquist, Stockholm, Sweden
- Ian Dungavell, London, United Kingdom
10. AGM 2024
Mr. Martin Ernerth presented an overview of the previous meetings. Then Mr Móczár Gábor Attila introduced the proposal to host the AGM 2024 in Budapest, Hungary.
11. Conclusion
Closing speech by Mr Ian Dungavell.